Spying On You chasing a second successive Great Eastern Steeplechase win for Grant Young at Oakbank

GRANT Young is confident Spying On You is in better shape this year as he attempts to become just the seventh horse in 143 years to claim successive wins in the Great Eastern Steeplechase at Oakbank.

Lincoln Moore

adelaidenowMarch 30, 20187:35pm

Spying On You (Tom Ryan) fly over the hedges at their final look at Oakbank ahead of the Great Eastern Steeplechase during Monday’s trials. PIC: TAIT SCHMAAL.Source:News Corp Australia

GRANT Young is confident defending champion Spying On You is better shape this year as he attempts to become just the seventh horse in 143 years to claim successive $150,000 Great Eastern Steeplechase (4250m) wins at Oakbank on Saturday.

2017-18 has been another impressive season for the Murray Bridge horseman who sits third on the South Australian trainers’ premiership having already produced five more winners than last year when he finished seventh.

“He’s the right type of horse for Oakbank, the smaller horses who jump well generally go well, he’s a very intelligent horse who has really come of age.

“He had a really messy race in the Von Doussa, he got jumped into early, was stuck deep for the last half of the race and still showed the audacity to run on and he’s come through it really well,’’ he said.

Spying On You trialled at Oakbank on Monday, Young’s unique training methods seeing the horse gallop on following his 3200m trial to further build his fitness base for Saturday’s race.

Spying On You will chase back-to-back wins in the Great Eastern Steeplechase at Oakbank. Picture: Tait SchmaalSource:News Corp Australia

“I said to Tommy to go for another 1000m after the trial, he had 10 minutes walking after that and had fully recovered,’’ Young said. “That put us in a really good position, he had a look around the (Murray) Bridge on Thursday morning and I can’t fault him.”

The Great Eastern Steeple has long been special place race the former jumps jockey who combined with Bruskin to win in 2000, but watching from the other side of the fence without control only increases the stress levels.

Young had every reason to be nervous last year.

Spying On You fell at his first crack at the Great Eastern in 2016 before showcasing his amazing staying abilities to run down Undergroundfighter and become the first local in 14 years to win.

And the enormity of winning such a test of endurance and horsemanship is always in the back of his mind.

Grant Young coulnd’t be happier with Spying On You heading into the Great Eastern Steeplechase. Picture: Tom HuntleySource:News Corp Australia

“I really understand the trust that’s involved between horse and rider in a race like the Great Eastern,’’ Young said. “At some part of that race on Saturday, Tommy (Ryan) is going to have to drop his hands and say “mate, it’s now up to you”.

“He’s done it already, we trust him and Tom is a great steeplechase rider with a great understanding with this horse but it’s never easy to watch.’’

Spying On You remains a $9 chance with Ladbrokes with Von Doussa winner Zed Em a dominant favourite trying to give trainer Patrick Payne his fourth Great Eastern win in eight years.

“Spying On Your has been $7.50 out to $9, but has been the only other horse we have taken any real money for,’’ Ladbrokes Tom Hackett said. “Zed Em is now into $1.75 and accounts for half the money we have taken on the race,’’ he said.